After the muddled forth installment of the Harry Potter series – The Globet of Fire. The franchise regains its footing with Phoenix. True, the first two acts are a little slow, but they also bring an emotional depth that’s been missing from the filmed series so far. In Phoenix, the power of fear is properly explored, and perfectly personified through a tremendous performance by Imelda Staunton as Dolores Umbridge. Daniel Radcliffe also steps up his acting game, and the finale is truly amazing to watch.

Movie Prep:

From what I gather, The Order of the Phoenix was the longest book in the series, and ended up being the shortest film. That being said, it seems likely a lot of information in the book probably didn’t make it to the silver screen. So if you’ve read the book, it’s possible this would be your least favorite in the series. If you haven’t read the book, just be ready for a slower start. It’s worth getting through though as the final act is great. Also, at this point in the series if you haven’t watched the first four films, you’ll get a little lost. While I think Phoenix could stand on its own, it would behoove you to watch the four films that came before this.

Best Format:

This is a beautifully photographed movie, and the color and spectacle of the final act deserves a big screen showing. At home a HD showing on a nice big TV is recommended!

Best moment for me: << spoilers! >>

The final battle at the Ministry of Magic between Voldemort, Professor Dumbledore, and Harry Potter is epic! It’s gorgeous to watch, and packs an emotional final punch. Loved it!